# A Time for Change - 01 - Prolouge

Author: Zarvaun
Tags: Anthropomorphic, Ferin, Humans, Medieval, Prolouge, change

"Hurry, Tala, we
must hurry." A rather husky, large wolf called to his wife as they
came to a halt together.

"I know, Ryker.
I'm trying, I'm sorry." Tala spoke. Ryker wrapped a loving arm
around her to both comfort her, and carry her along.


"Were nearly there
Tala, We must reach the gates before the moon is too high."

As the moon slowly
rose, all that could be heard were the muffled movement of the two
wolven lovers as they reached a rather large building.

"Here, Tala. This
is the place. We must leave him." Ryker said, motioning to a sign
that hung just above their heads, reading only "Orphanage".


"Ryker, there must
be another way. He is our son!" Tala said. It was only hours ago
she had given birth to a beautiful male cub, which she grasped
tightly to her breast.

"Tala we have been
over this." Ryker spoke softly, placing a rather large paw on her
cheek, pulling away a single tear. "I know it's hard." The wolf
said, motioning down to his cubs face. "I love him too, but if they
find out what we've done, they'll kill the three of us. Our only
chance for his safety, is to leave him. You shall see him again one
day, I promise you, Tala. I will do anything to see you as happy as
the first time he was in your arms."

"I know. I trust
you." Tala replied, more tears streaming down her cheeks. She
raised her child to her muzzle, and gave him a single kiss. "One
day, you will understand, Little one. My only hope is that you can
find it in your soul to forgive us." She said, before placing him
gently on the tallest step leading to a door of the building. Ryker
knelt down to his only son and kissed him gently on the forehead.


"I love you son,
We both do." He spoke, just before looking back to his wife with a
slight nod. "It is time, soon it will be easy for them to see us."

"Wait," Tala
said, reaching into her pocket to collect a sealed envelope, which
she placed on top of the blanket covering her child. "Always
remember who you are, and you shall find your way to us."

"Okay Tala, let us
go." Ryker said, his wife following him. They ran through the
streets now, together. The both of them barely reached the gate.
"Damn, we've waited too long." They both slowed to a halt, just
outside the city gate, where two human guards stood.


"Halt. Where are
you headed at such a late hour?" One of them spoke with a rather
loud voice. Ryker was quick to respond, as his wife lagged behind
slowly.


"Yes Sir, well you
see, Lord Brakkus gave me a direct message I am to deliver to you
both." The wolf spoke, trying to sound as official as possible.

"A direct message
from Brakkus, and he gave it to you of all... People? Is that what I
call you animal scum now?" The man spoke, with obvious hate in his
heart for the anthropic race known as Ferin. "Go on then, what does
he have to say?"

Ryker continued,
holding back his emotions of anger. "Lord Brakkus mentions there
will be a nobleman transported here to discuss relations with a
nearby keep. His transport and escort to the keep must be
uninhibited, and as such, this gate is to remain unsealed until his
arrival."

"He said that did
he? Told you, a wolf, to get us to open this gate, which I just
sealed, without any prior notice. I don't believe you for a second.
In fact, I should have you both hanged just for being here." The
soldier spat. "Piss off, wolf scum." The mans last remark pushing
Ryker to his limit.

"I have the
paperwork here." Ryker said, pulling some jumbled papers from his
coat. The soldiers allowed him to approach, and just as the blank
pages were ripped from his paws, he slammed the guard who took them
into the solid wooden gate, knocking him out cold. The second guard
pulled his blade and charged at Ryker, but wasn't quick enough. The
wolf was suddenly behind the guard, his arm around the solider's
neck, strangling him until he passed out as well. Ryker picked the
keys from one of the guards, and unlocked each of the padlocks
holding the larger plank in place.


"Come, Tala. We
don't have long before they wake." Ryker spoke, lifting the plank
from the doors and pushing open the large gate.It was about an hour later, when the tall wooden doors of the orphanage opened. A nightly task, the lighting of the exterior lights, which was assigned to Ms. Niara, one of the few teachers in the building. She was running late this night, as her Holiness, Lady (If you could call her that) Ruttonbelle's sermon had gone on far longer than usual. Unfortunately for her, she made the mistake of stepping out before looking down. Luckily for the child, she changed direction at the last minute, causing her to tumble downward, screaming as she went."Niara! Ms. Niara, are you okay?" Called one of her students, who had secretly been following her."Yes, yes child, I simply missed a step, I'm alright. What are you doing here child, you're supposed to be in bed!" She stammered, pulling herself up and dusting herself off."Well you see Ms., Some of the other children were saying that you--" She spoke, making her way to the door from the shadows. "Is that a baby?!""Oh, good heavens, Mara, its just you." Ms. Niara spoke. "Why, yes, I suppose it is. Who would do such a thing, dropping off a poor lonely-" She spoke, grabbing the baby, who seemed to be sleeping. She motioned her hand to the note left on the blanket and looked at it for a while, before her focus shifted to the child. "Oh dear God, its a wolf!""It's a what?" Mara questioned. She had heard stories of the animal races taught from her elders, but leaving the Orphanage was very uncommon for a child, let alone seeing one."Go back to bed, child. I will deal with this one, don't worry." Niara said, pocketing the note."Yes, mum." Mara replied, with obvious curiosity in her eyes.A loud knocking could be heard on Lady Ruttonbelle's door."Lady Ruttonbelle, please, open the door." Niara called."Go away, I've had a long day and I'm going to sleep!" Lady Ruttonbelle called back. Afterward, only silence could be heard on the other side, even with Ms. Niara's constant yelling and knocking."Lady Ruttonbelle, please! There's been a baby left on the door step, I don't know what to do!" Niara called, this time banging on the door."Niara, I'm very tired! Put it with the other orphans, we shall deal with it-" Lady Ruttonbelle called, her words cut off by Ms. Niara half-screaming."Its a wolf-child!" Niara called, and finally there was complete silence in the entirety of the orphanage. A pin could drop, it was so quiet, and stayed that way for what felt like hours to Niara. Finally after a few moments, Lady Ruttonbelle's door cracked open."Let me see it." She muttered through the door, peeking one eye through the crack, and just after her door slammed shut again. "Put it back outside. Maybe someone else will come along and take it." She spoke, obviously not speaking the answer Niara was looking for."Lady Ruttonbelle, we can't! We swore to take care of every child sent our way!" Niara called, again cut off by the nun."That is no child worth keeping, Niara. You know what happens to their kind. Taught to fight from birth so I hear, and if that doesn't work, they're sold into slavery. It's a sad thing we must do tonight, child, but there will be no home for it." Lady Ruttonbelle said softly, a sadness in her heart."Lady Ruttonbelle, we can't abandon him. No matter what, we have to take care of him, we have to! He's just a child!""It is a he?
Are you sure?" Lady Ruttonbelle responded."I found a note with the child, Here! Take it!" Ms. Niara spoke, shoving the note at Lady Ruttonbelle's door, before it slammed shut on her."No! I'll have nothing to do with this. If you really want to keep the child, fine, but he is your responsibility! I'll have nothing to do with whatever happens to him. Do you understand?" Lady Ruttonbelle said sternly, ending the conversation by locking her door, and walking to her bed."But Lady Ruttonbelle..." Niara spoke softly, not getting a response. She turned away from the door, shoving the unopened note back into her pocket, which read only on the front, "Please take care of him.""It's okay, little one," Niara spoke, holding the cub closer to her chest. "I promise, I will take care of you, no matter what. But what shall we call you? I've never named a ferin child before..." She said, tilting her head up to think. "How about... Ryan. I shall call you Ryan, yes, little Ryan the wolf-cub. That's it. Don't worry, you're in good hands, Little one." Just as she ended her little speech, the wolf cub looked up at her, staring with bright blue eyes for a while, before breaking into tears, and the loudest cry Niara had ever heard.Ms. Niara didn't get much sleep that night, or anyone else in the Orphanage for that matter, All except Lady Ruttonbelle, who snored almost as loudly.

Source: https://sofurry.com/view/1035579